Tuesday 31/12/2019 - Bitterwell Silvers Costcutter Open

With Christmas now over so was naturally now looking forward to getting out fishing even though the wrist wasn't completely healed. Couldn't help noticing that the weather has been OK during my short layoff. So with the weather promising to be dry I was off to the Tuesday Bitterwell Silvers match.

A good few other anglers had was also in need of a day out as we had 17 fishing and with three pleasure anglers the Lake would be nearing full.

I was joined by matey Chris Ollis and ended up drawing next to each other, with me on peg 6 and Chris on peg 8 - both reasonable pegs, but had the cold light wind in our faces.

I was hoping I could get the small Ronnie's in close enough for the 4 metre whip to save the left hand wrist. So set that up first, the trial presentation was acceptable, which was about top-set plus two and a bit. The other rig was a 4x12 Winter Titan to fish top-set plus four barrels, which just kept the butt out on the road behind. Both lines would be fished the same - GB and Pinkie.

I fed both lines with a nugget of GB with just a few Pinkies. I started on the whip with double Pinkie but didn't get a bite, so went long with Pinkie. I had a small Ronnie first try and by topping up regularly with a neat nugget of GB I kept a few Ronnie's coming with the odd 4 and 6 oz Skimmer. I did have a some Ronnie's on the whip which I had been topping up, but it was a question of only catch two before it died. The upshot was the long line produced the most I did lose a few ounces swing fish as it was still painful to used the landing net.

My few Silvers weighed in at 5 lb 3 oz for joint second on the day with Enigma - pictured below. I must say it is nice to have a break lunch time for a snack and cuppa kindly provided by Paul Isaacs.

The  match was won by Jason (pictured upper right) with 6 lb 13 oz from peg 12. Jason fed two lines, one at 14.5 metres and the other at 8 metres each with three balls of GB laced with maggot at the start. Jason caught small Skimmers mostly from his shorter line on double DR's and Pinkie.

Result:

1. Jason 6-13-0 peg 12
2. Mike Nicholls 5-03-0 peg 6
2. Steve Dawson 5-03-0 peg 31
4. Gary 5-01-0 peg 25

Weigh Sheet:

Thursday 19/12/2019 - Bathampton AA - Over 55's and Short Walks

Not a good start to the day firstly my burglar alarm went off in the early hours due to a power cut and a faulty battery in the alarm. Putting the kit in the car I tripped up a step saving myself with my left hand, I now have a sprained wrist - bugger.

Arrived in time for a quick walk around the Pool, a little bit more colour, a few signs of fish on pegs 8, 9 and 10, but hoping for peg 24.

Time for the draw and I heard John Smith say I could draw now as peg 29 had been drawn, but peg 31 was still in, so I waited a bit more. Finally into the draw bag and out comes peg 21 - yippy somewhere different. I had to think for a minute where it was! I subsequently realised it was a 13 metre peg to the island which I can normally handle, however, I was prepared to give it a try but was doubtful due to the sprained wrist.

When we have something new we are eager to try it out. I understand that Tony Rixon had new dentures and went around the Pool biting off feeders - just ask Paul Barnfield and John Smith. Let this be a lesson to organisers giving some anglers too long to set up.

I had decided to leave the umbrella home as the wind was supposed to increase - mistake as it rained all day with little wind - lesson learnt yet again.

From peg 21 I could only see two anglers John Smith on peg 24 and Pete Greenslade on peg 19. my peg today has not really finished since the summer so I didn't know what to expect. One thing for sure the big Carp that are caught during the summer ain't never far away.

I set up a 4 x16 to fish top-set plus two for Silvers with Pinkie and GB and a 4x14 to fish to my left down the inside shelf in 5 foot of water with kindered DR's. The 4x14 also suited over to the island at 13 metres but found my wrist wasn't up to it so only fished this until I had a Ronnie. As I had time I set up a small GB feeder to chuck around if things got hard.

The upshot was I had a 2 lb Skimmer first try then small Perch before I had another Skimmer about 8 oz all on triple Pinkie. The rest of the fish on this line were small Ronnies, but felt there was a marauding Carp around. I had  five F1's on the DR's down the left. I did have a few chucks on the feeder which only attracted small Perch and Ronnies. I felt I should have set up the Ronnie rig and loose fed it, plus fed some micro down the left.

My few Silvers weighed 4 lb 7 oz and my F1's 6 lb for a nowhere total of 10 lb 7 oz.  I did sit it out in the last hour for a bonus Carp which i knew wasn't far away which would have made a big difference.

Luckily it did stop raining whilst we packed away and weighed in.

The match was won by Pete "The Meat" Greenslade (pictured right) with 18 lb 14 oz from peg 19. Pete caught down both his edges in two foot of water using meat over potted meat and micro. Most of his weight was made up of three decent Carp.

The Silvers was won by Enigma (pictured right with the match winner) with 16 lb 7 oz from peg 16. Steve caught on the pole using Maggot feed and maggot hook bait.

Result:

1. Pete The Meat Greenslade 18-14-0 peg 19
2. Harry Muir 18-12-0 peg 11
3. Paul Barnfield 18-09-0 peg 28

Silvers:

1. Steve Dawson 16-07-0 peg 16
2. Tony The Teeth Rixon 13-12-0 peg 31
3. John Smith 10-03-0 peg 24

Weigh Sheets:

Tuesday 10/12/2019 - Bitterwell Silvers Xmas Match

As I was giving Thursday a miss this week I thought I would go and support Ken Morgan at Bitterwell, Ken runs a good match. However, the attendance was always going to be down due to the horrendous weather forecast - Rain and high gusting winds. Before the draw Ken handed out some mince pies.

I found myself once again wanting to be out of the wind so was hoping for the road side, but definitely not the car park side! Into the draw bag and out come red bottler top 12 - the garden pretty peg - far bank with the wind off my left shoulder. The last time I fished here I drew this peg and struggled. The peg is on the end before going around to the roadside, but on the right I had Neighbour Darren North - peg 14.

I had just bought a new Skimmer feeder rod - Drennan 10 foot Acolyte Ultra and wanted to try in out so set that up first. I set up a 4x12 to fish to my left upto some reed cover in three foot of water I really expected to catch some decent perch and Roach here. Final rig a 4x14 to fish at 10 metres, which to be honest wasn't right because of the tow against - like fishing a river. What was interesting I had a dummy cast on the feeder and there was no sign of tow? This peg is one of the deepest and shallows to the right so most of the tow was up in the water which was going to make presentation difficult.

Paul Isaacs the new fishery Manager came round during the match with a cuppa including a special black one for me - very welcome. 

I fed the against the reeds with neat Pinkie and at 10 metres with GB and Pinkie. I started on the feeder at 25 metres and after two casts was itching to try the pole. As expected the tow was making things difficult especially when adding the gusting wind which made it almost impossible to hold back. I did have a few tiny Ronnies and a lost 2 lb Skimmer which I think was fouled as it was coming in sideways. Next was a Carp which broke me. So tried my banker upto the reeds where the presentation was much better. I could get bites from fish that couldn't even hold the float down - small Perch and Ronnie's. I then had my first visitor Martyn Woodington who witnessed the teasing of the small fish. I then decided to fish the last 3 1/2 hours on the feeder to give it a good try out. Which I clipped up over the 10 metre pole line. My next visitors Glenn Bailey and Martin McMahon. I straight away getting bites on the drop again from tiny Ronnie's - very frustrating because if the bait settled on the bottom I would get a 4 oz Skimmer. If only I could have fished the Ronnie rig I am sure I would have had a good day, but once again the wind wasn't going to allow this.

I weighed 4 lb 3 oz for fifth. I was impressed with this rod and is ideal for this type of fishing - really nice soft action, no compromising the Skimmers.

The match was won by my neighbour Darren North (pictured right) with 9 lb 6 oz from peg 14. Darren had a long line where he fished GB and Pinkie where he caught the odd small Skimmers and Ronnie's. He later switched to a short line - top-set plus two with maggot hook bait fished over maggot. It wasn't until the last 15 minutes that he secured his win landing a 2 lb Hybrid and a 1 lb 5 oz Perch. Well done matey.

There was a special prize for the biggest Perch which I thought Darren would win, however, John Fuidge had a Perch exactly the same weight - pictured right - was it a question of a Xmas "Pass the Perch"?

It was back to the Bitterwell Hall - first time in there for me. Plenty of prizes one for all.

It was good to fish a traditional Xmas match - AKA fur and feather no sign of this - but alcohol free beer - really Ken. Paul Isaacs presented Darren with the Bitterwell Xmas match trophy - pictured above.

I have fished four different venues for Silvers over the last two weeks and can say that Bitterwell came out joint top for the Silvers fishing. I can't wait to get back there in conditions where I can fish the Ronnie rig. Now thinking of swapping Windmill Thursdays for Bitterwell Tuesdays.

Top Six:

1. Darren North 9-06-0 peg 14

2. John Fuidge 8-0-0 peg 17

3. Steve Dawson 5-10-0 peg 5

4. Ken Morgan 4-12-0 peg 7

5. Mike Nicholls 4-03-0 peg 12

6. Graham Beever 4-01-0 peg 15 

Weigh Sheet:

Sunday 08/12/2019 - Tony Rixon Open - Todber Manor - Hillview Lake

Breakfast in the Riverside Cafe with Bela and others - efficient service.. Arrived at the fishery to find Paul Elmes and Trigger travelling together again (evidence pictured right). Has the counselling worked or is it a marriage of convenience for the day?

Originally Tony had planned to use Ash Lake which in my opinion if the weather is going to be bad everyone will have very similar conditions to contend with. Tony moved it to Hillview to accommodate additional anglers. The weather was forecast to be horrendous, and it was which meant certain pegs would be reasonably sheltered and poleable, whilst others would be almost impossible to fish. The weigh sheets show which were which.

Chatting with Trigger, Bela and Paul we all wanted peg 60 or close by, failing that anywhere on the near side as the wind would be off the right shoulder. Well three of us got our wish Trigger peg 60, Bela peg 59 and me too far away on peg 56. I didn't care I just wanted to survive the day.

Mark Wynne on end peg 55 thought it best we fish for Silvers as a frame or section was unlikely. So I set up the Ronnie rig and a 4x14 Winter Titan to fish at 10 metres at 10 o'clock down wind. I fed the Ronnie line with GB laced with Pinkie and the long line which I started on with kindered LR's with double DR's on the hook. First put in I missed a bite but caught a Carp dropping back in. For the first hour all I could catch was Carp. So fed some GB with Pinkie on this line and tried the Ronnie rig and caught two more Carp losing a sizable one which straighten the hook. I did hook a 2 lb Skimmer which came off and two small Tench and four Ronnie's. It was obvious the Silvers weren't going to play today. Back out on the long line with Pinkie and had more Carp one was close to 18 lb. Just into the last two hours and we had a right storm leaving anglers in less fortunate areas running for cover - first time I've seen Tony Rixon run. Unfortunately I was playing a fish at the time and couldn't save four of my bait boxes blowing into the Lake. The wind must have been near 80 mph. Losing my bait didn't worry me as once the storm stopped I couldn't get a bite on anything/anywhere.

My Silvers weighed 1 lb 10 oz and my accidental Carp 51 lb 4 oz!!

The match was by Bela (pictured right with his catch) with 165 lb 13 oz from peg 59. Bela fished the straight lead using 8 mm punched medium slice hair rigged cast into open water. He baited up with either three or five rings. He had Ryan Jordan confused by what he was feeding. Bela was catapulting pouches of nothing whilst Ryan was watching for the splash to see what he was feeding. Bela fed four bags of nothing throughout the match. Bela got the method right on the day - well done matey nice to see you kick Triggers ass off the next better peg.

The Silvers was won by Mark Wynne from peg 55 (pictured right) with 9 lb. Mark caught most of his Silvers at 13 metres using Pinkie hook bait fished over loose fed Pinkie. Well done matey. Both qualified for the King of the Manor finals.

We celebrated Bela's win in the usual way in Bar-Gar-Age.

Result:

1. Bela Bakos 165-13-0 peg 59
2. Dave Willmott 139-14-0 peg 48
3. Joe McMahon 135-08-0 peg 39
4. Craig Edmonds 118-04-0 peg 60

Silvers:

1. Mark Wynne 9-0-0 peg 55
2. Dave Willmott 8-05-0 peg 48
3. Martin Rayet 7-08-0 peg 36

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 05/12/2019 - Bathampton AA - Over 55's and Short Walks - Bridge Pool

The weather forecast looked good so was vastly disappointed to find a very hard frost. Arrived at the fishery 30 minutes early and had a half walk around the Lake which was enough to tell me is was going to be very hard - didn't see a fish top anywhere.

The GAS played last night in the league cup and scraped through on penalties the two Gas Heads pictured right celebrating.

I'm fed up drawing pegs 29, 30 and 31. At least 30 wasn't in the draw bag and decided to go into the draw bag early in an attempt to fish a different peg! I couldn't believe it to find myself holding peg 29 AGAIN. It's beyond funny now. Looking on the bright side the sun was suppose to come out and would not hinder visibility - that didn't happen! Again the wind was in my face which again was wrong as it was supposed to turn 180 degrees and didn't. The leafs just kept rocking and rolling.

For company  had the mumbler Paul Haines on 28 and Paul Barnfield down on the winter Ronnie peg 31 - expect some moaning - didn't even get that today.

Set up a very small GB feeder and a 4x16 Winter to fish top-set plus three which wasn't really far enough but the light on the water is horrendous and was to cause me a right headache.

After feeding the pole line I started on the GB feeder with maggot hook bait and Pinkie in the GB towards the island but well off as the water was really clear. I was amazed that I had a liner straight away and over the next 20 minutes I put 7 lb of Silvers in the next including a 1 1/2 Perch. Well for the rest of the match I struggled for another 2 1/2 lb. I did hook a decent Carp on the pole but wasn't on long so suspect it was foul hooked.

My Silvers weigh in at 9 lb 3 oz for second in the Silvers, so happy with that from this peg. The issue is that I have the same chances of drawing it again next match!!

The match was won by Mumbles Brewery boss Pete Turner (pictured right on his knees with the Silvers winner on tippy toes) with 14 lb 8 oz from peg 10. Pete caught three quick Carp on the method with maggot hook bait. Then struggled for 2 lb of Silvers. Well done matey.

The Silvers was won by Jeff Grant with 10 lb 8 oz from peg 15. Jeff caught on the long pole fishing maggot and GB catching some big Skimmers.

Result:

1. Pete Turner 14-08-0 peg 10
2. Tony Rixon 14-06-0 peg 19
3. Paul Haines 11-0-0 peg 28

Silvers:

1. Jeff Grant 10-08-0 peg 15
2. Mike Nicholls 9-03-0 peg 29
3. Dave Poole 8-09-0 peg 10

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday 01/12/2019 - Viaduct Silvers League - Round Five - Campbell, Carey and Lodge Lakes

Bela and I had a tortuous drive down behind some old twat driving at 30 MPH irrespective of the speed limit, not wise keeping Bela from his breakfast. I have found the breakfasts at Shipham generally mediocre, however, today it was spot on and was very welcome.

I had my usual walk around and took the picture opposite looking back to the shop of where I would like to draw today.

Into the draw coffee tin and out comes peg 103. It's the third time I have drawn it this year and again will have the cold northerly in the face.Have no doubts it can be a very good peg, but appears to my boogie peg. For company I had Nigel Easton on peg 105 who said the Skimmers had moved up the lake and wasn't that enamoured with his draw. On the other side peg 102 was the Dude - aka Dan Squires. Always interesting fishing next to him - especially today when he broke his waggler fencing with a tree.

I had planned to fish the waggler for the majority of the match with caster feed and either DR's on the hook or single caster, so it was first to be set up. The light is generally very bad on this venue and choosing a float is difficult. However, I had two Drake floats - a red and a yellow tip which I could easily change with a clip attachment. Next was a 4x12 to fish at 11.5 metres which is about as much as Joe McMahon would allow who was behind me on Lodge peg 71. I hate unshipping. I knew The Dude would out gun me and he certainly did I'm not sure how far he went out but I could hardly see the end of the pole. I reckon he was triple unshipping. Last rig which I didn't expect to use was the Ronnie rig.

Laying the bait table I noticed the caster bag had been nibbled which is something I have to do sometimes to open the bag knot. However, it was clear that the culprit was a mouse. There was enough air to turn them very dark - pictured right - they did sink though - Mouse traps now fully armed! Every single angler around me were all kind enough to offer me caster - thanks Dude.

Steve Long came by and I thought he had a piece of carpet for my stepped platform. Alas not.

I fed two long lines with a bit of caster, Pinkie and DR's plus one ball on the Ronnie line. I started on the waggler with double DR's and was getting indications straight away from Ronnies. I had about four 1 oz specimens after a lot of striking and casting. This lead me to try the Ronnies rig which produced the same size fish but 100 time quicker. Now I regret not keeping to the plan and stopping the waggler I should have given it an hour more. The Dud started to catch small Skimmers on maggot on his extreme line. So I tried my long line an could only catch the same small Ronnies. Again I should have given this longer before switching back to the Ronnie rig too soon - too easy I think. The upshot was I stayed with this for the majority of the match, and should not have - catching about 100 Ronnies.

I weighed 6 lb 13 oz for once again last in the section. Although this is a six match series unfortunately I have to miss the last one with Chris Ollis agreeing to stand in. My series has been awful. Mostly down to me. I have got it wrong three times, got in right twice but changed it to wrong, but mostly being out gunned by the long pole. I must make more use of the waggler next year - I have a plan!! Bela further spoiled my day by coming second in his section moving out of last but one relegating me to his position. We did have a good laugh about our poor results this league. Roll on next year.

The match was won by Scaffolder Ricky Mills (pictured right) with 20 lb 10 oz from Campbell peg 131. Ricky caught on the long pole fishing two lines - one with maggot/GB and the other caster/GB. Well done matey them scaffold tubes will be cold in the morning.

Result:

1. Ricky Mills 20-10-0 peg 131
2. Alvin 18-13-0 peg 59
3. Stu White 17-02-0 peg 69 - AGAIN
4. Tony Rixon 16-12-0 peg 80
5. Craig Edmonds 13-08-0 peg 97
6. Bela Bakos 12-03-0 peg 81

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 28/11/2019 - Windmill Cost Cutter - Match Lake

I was tempted by Dave Willmott to go to Viaduct - Wish I had!! Instead chose Windmill Cost Cutter only because it was local. Arrived at the fishery gate and it took longer to negotiate all the potholes than it did to drive from home. The road is about 300 metres long and full of potholes (typically pictured right Road to Hell). Needs sorting.

Good turn out  with 14 fishing - probably because of the good weather forecast.

Into the draw bag and out comes red milk bottle top peg 4. Reasonably happy with this as it's a good Silvers peg and can sometimes throw up the Carp. Hang on - redraw - not enough pegs - bugger. Back in to the draw bag and this time peg 6 - not so happy with this one in the winter - good summer peg though, but won't be here that long! The Lake was flat calm and with the bright sunshine expectations was low.

With peg 7 not in I set up the waggler to fish into the gap with maggot over maggot. A 4x14 to fish top-set plus four sections at 10 o'clock and last but not least the Ronnies rig.

I fed the Ronnie line with GB and Pinkie. The longer pole line with micro and DR's and started to pult LR's into the gap. I started on the long line expecting an early Carp, alas not so picked up the Ronnie rig and was surprised to get a bite straight away an 1/2 oz Ronnie. I had a couple more then a 12 oz Skimmer before I foul hooked a Carp which came off and killed the peg. Re-fed as it was time for the banker waggler. The ducks were a nightmare as soon as I pulted  they were there attacking the red float top. I persevered and hooked a decent Carp which broke the hook length. Rested the peg and tried the long line again with double DR on the hook over kindered DR's and micro and had a 8 oz Skimmer - out again and another bite and on the strike my pole broke on the sixth section, a quick recovery to find I had a decent Skimmer still attached which I lost at the net - double bugger. I got the spare section which proved to be a waste of time. Back on the waggler and I was soon playing another lump but we soon parted company when the line broke on the locking shot so lost the Carp and my current favourite waggler - now two double buggers. Time for the Banana walk to discover it was fishing extremely hard for most. I decided to give up on everything except the Ronnie rig and fish for the Silvers. This resulted in a few 1 oz Ronnies and another Skimmer.

I weighed 2 lb 8 oz for an unbelievable second in the Silver pick-up.

The match was won by Nick Saunders (pictured right with his catch) with 44 lb 6 oz from you guessed it my first drawn peg 4!! Nick caught on 6mm meat over 6mm meat at 14.5 metres in 3 foot of water.

The Silvers was won by Enigma with 3 lb 6 oz from peg 10.

Result:

1. Nick Saunders 44-6-0 peg 4
2. Jeff Grant 38-08-0 peg 20
3. Paul Haines 28-10-0 peg 18
4. Ray Bazeley 25-08-0 peg 25

Silvers:

1. Steve Dawson 3-06-0 peg 10
2. Mike Nicholls 2-08-0 peg 6
2. Nick Saunders 2-08-0 peg 4
4. Gary Bowden 2-0-0 peg 8

Weigh Sheet: 

Saturday 23/11/2019 - Todber Manor - John's Birthday bash Open Match - Hillview, Ash and Homeground

I was thinking of going to Hillview again on Sunday and when Joe offered a lift to Todber Manor and after checking the weather forecast I decided to take up his offer. Later in the week we found out it was John's birthday and had choose to change the all winners qualifiers to anyone who brought him a pressy would qualify in the Silvers providing they caught 12 lb or more and likewise the Carp was 80 lb. So made the visit more attractive for me as I wanted to qualify for the Silvers again. I did think that the 12 lb was carefully worked out and wouldn't be that easy from any peg.

Pickup on time at 06:45 arriving at the "Nine Items" Cafe by eight. Martin Rayet also travelled with us and thought it had changed to "Twelve Items Cafe"! Arrived at the fishery to see John smiling behind a pile of booze (pictured right).

Into the draw bowl and out comes peg Ash 62. Umm the near end peg. Looking like a waste of a decent Carp peg then. Who was to turn up on next peg was Nick Chedzoy - so good company on the left! The wind was perfect for me with it off my right shoulder blowing into the far bank corner. The priority was to qualify for the Silvers, but was thinking I might be able to have a couple of hours on the waggler to catch some of the Carp boshing over in the far corner. I had previously decided to fish very negatively targeting small fish - mainly Ronnies. So other than the waggler which cast and sat well I went for the Ronnie rig and a 4x14 Winter Titan to fish at 10 meters at 10 o'clock. I fed the Ronnie line with a fishmeal mix of GB laced with Pinkie and the long line with natural GB with caster/DR's. Throughout I fed the waggler line with LR's if only to keep the Carp occupied elsewhere.

I decided to count the weight backwards which proved to be more difficult than I thought. I soon started catch 1 oz Ronnies loose feeding Pinkie over the top of the GB. Whilst counting back arriving at 6 lb I realised I was counting a pound back from 12 oz so had to penalise myself by 1 lb!! I left the long line until I hooked my first Carp on the Ronnie rig and when I went over it with double LR's I was getting indications which proved to be very tiny Skimmers whose eyes weighed more than the rest of the body. As I half expected 12 lb was going to take the whole match especially to make sure I didn't over estimate. I didn't loose a fish on the Ronnie rig however, the long line was proving very different - in the last knockings I reckon I lost 4 Skimmers - about 4 lb in weight - with them coming off for no apparent reason. Even though I had the urge a few times to pick up the waggler it stayed in the holster all match.

Luckily I really didn't get bothered by Carp on the Silver lines catching only three for 6 lb 4 oz. My Silvers weighed 15 lb 4 oz so mission accomplished, but was left feeling that the 4 lb of lost Skimmers cost be money and "if only" I had caught some better Skimmers early I might have had chance of a double qualifier - that's fishing.

The match was won from the inform peg 48 by Mark Wynne (pictured right) with 201 lb. Mark started long on the pellet and later down his edge on maggot over GB topping up after every fish. Well done matey.

The Silvers was won by who else other than Ryan Shipp (pictured right) with 35 lb 8 oz of Skimmers. Ryan caught on two lines at 14 .5 metres using a mix of Thatchers Gold and F1 dark GB and maggot. Well done matey.

Happy birthday John hope you enjoyed your day as much as we did. Just wish the fishery was closer.

Weigh Sheets:

Thursday 21/11/2019 - Bathampton AA - Over 55's and Short Walks - Bridge Pool

Hungry Horace's for Geoff and me - lovely breakfast. Arriving at the fishery I was surprised how cold it was. The day to try my heated jacket I think. We had a walk around and saw just one Ronnie being chased by a predator. A few years back when BAA said they would remove the Carp and take out the small Silvers and start adding Siltex every year many knowledgeable anglers said the water would go gin clear and the Silvers fish would be hard to catch especiacially in winter when the Comerants arrive. Well that day had arrived. The Lake was like tap water and as it was to prove the Silver fish were doing their best not to give their presence away to the predators.

Last in the draw bag and out comes peg 29 - Umm - So my last six match draws have gone 30,30, 31,30 29 and 29! Hoping next match to have a change of scenery.

The cold wind would be a bitch but was slightly off my right shoulder so I set up the waggler to fish to the end of the island, a 4x16 to fish at 10 metres in 8 foot of water, a 4x14 to fish short top-set plus one, the Ronnies rig and a 0.3 g to fish along the RH side in 3 foot of water for Carp. I wouldn't usually set this much up but guessing it would be hard  - a new line and rig equals renewed optimism and hopefully these rigs would see me through the expected five hours of boredom.

The upshot was as anticipated I didn't have a bite on anything other than the long line where I had fed GB laced with Pinkie, with Pinkie on the hook. I had six bites - 2 Skimmers, two Ronnies, one Perch and a lucky 7 lb Common Carp. During the last 45 minutes my concentration was being held by liners from another Carp, plenty of striking but unfortunately no contact.

I weighed 9 lb 1 oz which got me fourth and last in the money. Plus my heated jacket did its job - heated boots next I think.

The match was won by Dave Gillard (pictured right with the Silvers winner - I think Wayne's feet were off the ground) with 19 lb 6 oz from peg 14. Dave caught mainly F1's fishing a method feeder over to the island with micro feed and double maggot on the hook.

The Silvers was won by Wayne Storry with 8 lb 3 oz from peg 8, Wayne caught seven Skimmers on conventional GB feeder tactics with maggot hook baits.

It was back to the pub with the usual suspects where it was politics word association - every word spoken, Ray Bazeley would use it to talk about how wonderful the Labour party are.

Result:

1. Dave Gillard 19-06-0 peg 14
2. Paul Haines 17-02-0 peg 17
3. John Smith 10-08-0 peg 28
4. Mike Nicholls 9-01-0 peg 29

Silvers:

1. Wayne Storry 8-03-0 peg 8
2. Tony Rixon 7-06-0 peg 1
3. Gary Bowden 6-09-0 peg 4
4. Steve Dawson 6-01-0 peg 6

Weigh Sheets:

Sunday - 17/11/2019 - Viaduct Silvers League - Round Four - Campbell, Carey and Lodge Lakes

On the way back home from Saturday's match I was still feeling unwell and left it with Bela that I would let him know first thing in the morning if I was going to the Silvers league next day. I went to bed early and managed a good night's sleep and felt 100% when I got up and couldn't wait to get back down Viaduct again. First stop Shipham for breakfast which went down better than last night supper.

Again arrived in plenty of time for me to have a walk around. I thought I would try something different and go and stand on my peg of choice and lay down some scent and took this picture from it looking back to the lodge. Was it to be first or second that come from it?

Mid position in the draw queue and pulled peg 115 definitely not the one of my choice - far from it, so the scenting didn't work. I didn't mind as I was feeling really good. This end of Campbell has been very poor of late plus it was a very strong section. For company I had Joe "Yorkie" McMahon on peg 116 and "The Gabe" on peg 114 and I could hear "The Trig" down on peg 111. I think once your pass 114 and opposite pegs 118 the fishing is hard, so I think there maybe justification to rethink the pegging next year and perhaps have sections across the Lake.

I set up the same as the day before and fishing 11.5 metres I was out as far a Joe fishing 16 metres because he was set back, but not as far as Gabe. I fed the same as yesterday but thought this end would be better for the Ronnie's so started for them and was very disappointed to find they weren't feeding. So out on the waggler and I would expect to catch a Ronnie first cast on double DR over caster, when that didn't happen I knew I was going to struggled. I tried the long pole line and had a couple of very small Skimmers on double DR. I then hooked a better one but it came off, on inspection and with slime up the line it was most probably foul hooked. I repeated this next put-in - bugger, I only caught a few tiny Ronnie's after this. With no hope of coin or points I made it a easy second half using the Ronnie rig catching the odd one, but couldn't really string them together. In the last hour I had four Carp on this rig- none landed however!

Time to pack up and just to unclip the keep net and  did the splits on the platform pushing my box and keep net into the Lake. Luckily Joe and Gabe came the rescue getting my now listing seat box out and netting the items that was floating. Thanks lads. As it's a league I always weigh in and found I had 3 lb 14 oz left in the net. I am sure if I added those that may have escaped I would have still been last in section! Groin strain now though.

The match was won by Paddy Curry (pictured right and right) with 25 lb 12 oz from Lodge peg 68. Paddy caught at 16 metres feeding neat GB with either caster or corn on the hook. That draw bag Stu White drew next to Paddy and was runner up. Well done matey.

Bela was also last in his section - Hero to Zero's today. We had a right laugh about the weekend on the way home which ended in Bar-Gar-Age. With all my gear soaking wet I left it out to dry - now for the stock take to see what Steve Long now owns!!

Gabe gave me some of his GB he's been using to try out - The "Gabe 2" he swears by it, but didn't give me the recipe - yet! I will try it next time out at Huntstrete. Plus my bait bag was twice as heavy going home due to all the bait donations - this is when you know it's been hard fishing.

Well done to the Long's for running another efficient match. The weigh in's are exceptionally quick.

Result:

1. Paddy Curry 25-12-0 peg 68
2. Stu White 22-07-0 peg 69 (the peg with my scent!)
3. Glenn Calvert 18-03-0 peg 78
4. Gary Webber 17-03-0 peg 130
5. Craig Edmonds 16-14-0 peg 111
6. Kev Newman 16-08-0 peg 77

Weigh Sheets:

16/11/2019 - Angling Trust - SilverFish 2019 - Viaduct - Campbell, Carey and Spring Lakes

When Fish o Mania  first started I fished the first one on the river and won my section. The next time, I fished the K&A canal and again won my section by default and was only two pegs from a peg of my choice and a qualifier. My next match was at Viaduct peg 74 - packed in early next and my last ever Fish o match again at Viaduct and peg 1 - next to Tommy Pickering - another early bath, haven't bothered since. However, when I heard of the equivalent with Silver fish I thought at least I should give the first one a go. So choose the local venue Viaduct fishery. The only difference in qualification was that section of 15 winners would go through instead of overall winners.

Really looking forward to it BUT the night before I felt really rough and didn't sleep all night. I got up early and took some painkillers and was thinking of calling Bela to cry off. But had a change, thinking I would go and walk around, then second thought I would go and have a draw and fish if I thought I had a chance of qualifying. So after trying to eat a McD breakfast Bacon thingy we arrived at the fishery in plenty of time for 0:800 draw. Last but three into the draw coffee tin and out comes peg 129. Happy with that as it's the right end of Campbell any higher up and it would been a walking and sleeping day. Bela drew well too, peg 96 on Carey.

For company I had matey Stu White on peg 130 - Not the Silvers angler you would choose to have next to you at present in this match - but nevertheless glad to next to him and have a watch on how its done. I had a walk up the section to see Trigger on end peg 124 who was climbing trees to make an ad hoc pole roller. Unfortunately I didn't get the picture of him falling down- pictured right.

I knew I would be out gunned on the pole so choose the waggler as first choice.  I did set up two other rigs - the Ronnie and a 4x12 to fish as far as the Otter fence allowed. I fed the long line with four balls of GB laced with caster but started on the waggler with double DR's over loose fed caster. It wasn't long before there was enough indications to keep me interested. The upshot was I had a decent day catching three big Perch, two Bream and some smaller Skimmers about 10 oz. I did try the long line and had some 4 oz Skimmers, which soon dried up. The last hour was hard on the waggler catching mainly Carp. During this time Stu started to catch big Skimmers which must have moved in from the aerator.

All my fish were quality even the one 12 oz Roach and weighed a total of 15 lb 12 oz for second in the section. It was also good to hear that Bela was also second in his section so a double bubble van.

The match was won by Stu White next to me (pictured right with his catch) on peg 130 with 36 lb. Stu fished 14.5 metres into the shade of the tree to his left. Stu started by feeding four balls of GB laced with casters and only topped up through his kinder pot with caster. Stu initially caught on maggot but later switched to caster which produced bigger Skimmers, having a productive last hour. Well done matey nice to watch.

Well done to all four qualifiers and all locals. I am sure they all will do well in the final and it won't surprise me to see one win it on the right peg.

Bela and I stopped for a chip supper, but I didn't enjoy it as I was still suffering.

Result:

Weigh Sheets: